WATERING 145 



gainers, but distinctly losers, for this kind of treatment 

 would very soon be responsible for a heavy death rate. 

 And to do so, apart from the humanity of the thing, 

 seems to me to be opposed to the commonest form of 

 common sense evidently a very rare quality 'nowa- 

 days ! 



The best plan is to leave it to nature that is, to the HOW to let 

 animals themselves as the natives do, and you will find drink, and 

 that they will drink daily, a small quantity no doubt, quantity 

 but sufficient to answer the purpose, and to fulfil its Jaiiy 

 legitimate functions, while it refreshes and satisfies the sorb 

 animal. There is no doubt, however, that when the 

 grazing is fresh, as above described, marching under 

 native management, where the camel is considered first 

 and foremost, and everything has to give way to his 

 convenience, he can make a greater effort, and carry on 

 a few days longer, than when he is overdriven and 

 stinted by us. Under such conditions he can abstain 

 from eight to ten days, without much physical wear 

 and tear, and without sowing the seeds of constitutional 

 debility and premature decay. But four or five days' 

 abstinence in the heat and on dry food is sufficient, if 

 you do not wish subsequently to injure him, and even- 

 tually to cut short his life. 



I have read somewhere that camels of the Arabian 

 species will only drink five to six gallons at a time, 

 which will last them for six days, while the Bactriaii 

 can take in only half that quantity. But in a hot 

 climate, during steady work, my experience has been 

 that even a camel belonging to the country can and 

 will drink a great deal more than this. Therefore I 

 should imagine that the Bactrian, or a camel of the 



L 



